Château de Cazeneuve

Préchac, France

The Château de Cazeneuve was built along the gorges of the River Ciron and the stream of Honburens. The early castle was the former residence of the Kings of Navarre, the property of King Henry IV. It was built by Amanieu VII d'Albret on a rocky bank. It included in its enclosure the medieval mound of the 11th century preceded by a vast courtyard whose curtain walls protected the town.

Due to financial problems King Henry sold the castle in 1583. In the 17th century, the building underwent a major overhaul. The medieval castle was then transformed into a pleasant and ceremonial château. It has since been restored regularly. The castle still belongs to the Sabran-Pontevès family, descendants of the d'Albrets.

The site is made up of troglodyte caves under the castle and large underground medieval cellars. The old parts are the advanced fortifications and the moats. The buildings are a reconstruction dating from the 17th century. The royal apartments are period furnished.

The wooded park runs along the Ciron and includes the lake, the mill, the wash house and the bird island.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 11th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in France
Historical period: Birth of Capetian dynasty (France)

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Jan Kerry (3 months ago)
Amazing Chateau. We were very impressed with the furniture and furnishings etc. Wow, what a way to live. Being English speakers we were also impressed with the English translation given to us - very well presented. We are so glad we came here - it is not to be missed. Gardens are impressive and worth a walk through. Take a picnic to have under the trees - very peaceful. Thanks for having us!
Sue Harrison (4 months ago)
Very interesting chateaux. It was a French guided tour but our guide spoke some English and we were provided with a written English guide. Guide was very helpful.
Irina CV (6 months ago)
A most beautiful, authentic, historical chateau! Highly recommend visiting it. A special thank you to the tour guide for a wonderful tour of the chateau itself. Thank you for the family maintaining it for posterity. The chateau is steeped in 10 centuries of history, which one can feel at arrival.
Rory Davidson (17 months ago)
Beautifully restored chateau with tour guides who are very friendly and know their stuff. Excellent accessible facilities and beautiful grounds. A hidden gem worth visiting.
Adrigue le vert (3 years ago)
Informative. Excellent and very knowledgeable guides. Beautiful and relaxing surroundings.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Gravensteen

The Gravensteen is a castle in Ghent originating from the Middle Ages. The name means 'castle of the counts' in Dutch. Arnulf I (918–965), Count of Flanders, was the first to fortify this place, building a medieval bastion on this high sand dune, naturally protected by the river Leie and its marshy banks. This bastion consisted of a central wooden building and several surrounding buildings, also in wood.

In the early 11th century, the wooden building was replaced by a stone residence, consisting of three large halls that made up three storeys, connected by a stone stairwell. The monumental stone staircase, the light openings, the fireplaces built into the walls and the latrines were signs of considerable luxury and comfort in those days. There was probably also a tower.